Pearland school put on lockdown

A Pearland school was placed on lockdown Friday because of a rumor of a threat at the campus, according to school officials.

From the school district:

The lockdown at Pearland Junior High East has been lifted as of 10:55 a.m. Students have returned to their normal class schedules. The Pearland Police Department responded this morning to a rumor of a threat at PJH East. The school was placed on lockdown as officers conducted an investigation and inspected the campus. So far, the incident has been categorized as a rumor.

Pearland police told KPRC-TV that there were rumors that a student planned to take a gun to the school at 2315 Old Alvin Road.

“There’s no indication that this was anything other than an idle comment from one student to another,” (Pearland police) Lt. Onesimo Lopez said. “We’re confident at this time that this is nothing more than just a rumor.”

Detectives said they were also concerned about possible violence because it is the anniversary of the Columbine school shooting and because it is 4/20 Day, which is associated with the use of marijuana.

Lopez said the lockdown was ordered out of an abundance of caution.

District spokeswoman Renea Ivy-Sims said that students’ safety is the most important concern.

“Our top priority is maintaining a secure educational environment for our students and staff,” she stated in an email. “Pearland ISD is always going to respond on the side of caution when there is a threat, or rumor of threat, to student safety.”

The lockdown lasted about 40 minutes. No injuries or arrests were reported.